"Life preservers"

I sat looking at her photo of marriage dissolution papers.  Stage IV cancer rears its ugly head again.  She is splitting from her husband in the hopes of not bankrupting her family.  With her kids about to go away to college, the fact that they may have to lose both their mom and their college funding, was more than she could take.  She is clearly in survival mode, stripping herself bare, in the hopes of more tomorrows.

I wish I could say I can't imagine what that looks like.  How she must feel.  On the surface she looks brave, fearless, inspiring.  But I know... her back is against the wall and she simply has no other choice.    We don't walk this path by choice.  We yield.  We surrender.  We're afraid, hurt and completely aware of the precariousness of it all.  I wish I could say I have no idea what that feels like...


But the truth is, I do.  Cancer is so enormous, it takes over you whole life, not just your whole body.  Nothing is sacred.  Nothing is left untouched.

marriages...

homes...

jobs...

lives...

all at risk of being lost...

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But this is how I am rescued.


I arrived at the Iverson's house last night.  The Vicky Westra Benefit team was putting together silent auction items.  And there spread out all across the basement were my "life preservers."  Each and every item, a reflection of someone who has been touched by cancer.  The generosity on display brings me to tears and I am quiet, trying to take it all in.

I witness the devotion, the team work, the generosity of Heather and Dave, Brenda and Steve, Laura and Eric and so many others behind the scene that I have yet to fully comprehend. Gratitude unexpressed lodges in my throat, words seeming inadequate to the magnitude of the feelings I have.

I am moved beyond words.

The newest breast cancer drug on the market is Pertuzumab, called Perjeta.  A loading dose of the drug is 22,000 dollars.  Its infused once every three weeks.  The maintenance doses are 11,000 dollars. The drug has shown significant ability to increase long term survival  Insurance companies however, are categorically denying coverage for the drug.  You can "max out a life" trying to cover the costs on your own.  You can lose a life by deciding it isn't worth the cost.

Having a decent health insurance policy, like we have, doesn't ensure you are covered.  A 2 million dollar cancer benefit feels like enough- but when ct scans, mri's, bone scans, PET scans, mental health visits, oral chemos, prescription drugs, outpatient services (ahem, like your referral to a plastic surgeon for a non healing wound) are all excluded from your policy?  You can literally drown in bills.

We fight more than just the disease of cancer.

And that is where the "community" at large comes into play.  That saying "It takes a village to raise a child..."  "It takes a community to help a family fight against cancer."  I've said it a hundred times, and I'll keep saying it till I'm blue in the face- this is the most generous, giving, thoughtful community ever.  From my family to my blogging friends, to our hockey friends, to my cancer sistas, to our church communitites to our neighbors, and shoot- I know I will leave someone out...  but we would be obliterated if it weren't for all of you.

That is why...

Each basket, each item, each gift certificate snakes around the basement, forming a chain of survival.  A chain of hope.  A battle won for our family.  Our future stretches out before us, wrapped in love, generously given by so many.  But not just our family- every family seeking shelter from the damages of the hurricane of cancer.

I feel abundantly blessed, wrapped in His grace and His mercy and so loved.  So, so loved.  Amen.


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I started with a couple of photos- but quickly realized I wanted to capture everything!  If you are a Twins fan- TC put together a donation from his stash of memorabilia!  This is just two of a box full of items!  Joe Mauer anyone?

Are you an old school Twins fan? Kirby Puckett anyone?  

A purse from the boutique of Vi who I bought my wig from.  So cute! 

massages

hair care- highlights, cuts, styles- products...

beautiful jewelry

toys, toys, and lots of toys- Bakugan, hot wheels, Xbox games, etc...

John Deere toys

wine baskets

hotel packages

a casino package

all things hockey!  Blue line camp, Sanford treadmill sessions,  FP3 summer session, to hmmm... maybe something a little "Wild?"  Maybe something very Wild! 

Stay tuned... its just getting started...